Flexible cable for optical pickup and optical disc drive including the same

Abstract

A flexible cable is provided. The flexible cable includes a base film having a band shape, a plurality of wiring layers disposed on the base film and extending in one direction, and a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film and partially adjusting the elasticity of the flexible cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flexible cable comprising:
 a base film; 
 a plurality of wiring layers disposed on the base film; 
 a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film for adjusting the elasticity of the flexible cable; and 
 a reinforcing film attached to the base film at a bendable portion, 
 wherein the flexible cable is capable of bending throughout an entire length of the flexible cable. 
 
     
     
       2. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns comprise a plurality of through holes formed through the reinforcing film attached to the base film. 
     
     
       3. The flexible cable of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of through holes have at least two different sizes. 
     
     
       4. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns comprise a plurality of dimples (concavities) formed on the reinforcing film attached to the base film. 
     
     
       5. The flexible cable of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of dimples have at least two different sizes. 
     
     
       6. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns comprise a plurality of through holes formed through the reinforcing film attached to the base film and a plurality of dimples formed on the reinforcing film. 
     
     
       7. The flexible cable of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of through holes and dimples have at least two different sizes. 
     
     
       8. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein a size of a margin between an edge of the outermost wiring layer among the plurality of wiring layers and an edge of the base film is greater than a size of a pitch between the plurality of wiring layers. 
     
     
       9. The flexible cable of  claim 8 , wherein the size of the margin is twice the size of the pitch. 
     
     
       10. An optical disc drive comprising:
 a pickup unit comprising an optical pickup configured to access a recording surface of an optical disc; 
 a transfer mechanism configured to drive the pickup unit; 
 a circuit board connected to the optical pickup; 
 a main frame supporting the transfer mechanism; and 
 a flexible cable connecting the pickup unit and the circuit board and comprising a base film, a plurality of wiring layers disposed on the base film, a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film for adjusting the elasticity of the flexible cable, and a reinforcing film attached to the base film at a bendable portion, 
 wherein the flexible cable is capable of bending throughout an entire length of the flexible cable. 
 
     
     
       11. The optical disc drive of  claim 10 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns comprise a plurality of through holes formed through the reinforcing film attached to the base film. 
     
     
       12. The optical disc drive of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of through holes have at least two different sizes. 
     
     
       13. The optical disc drive of  claim 10 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns comprise a plurality of dimples (concavities) formed on the reinforcing film attached to the base film. 
     
     
       14. The optical disc drive of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of dimples have at least two different sizes. 
     
     
       15. The optical disc drive of  claim 10 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns comprise a plurality of through holes formed through the reinforcing film attached to the base film and a plurality of dimples formed on the reinforcing film. 
     
     
       16. The optical disc drive of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of through holes and dimples have at least two different sizes. 
     
     
       17. The optical disc drive of  claim 10 , wherein a size of a margin between an edge of the outermost wiring layer among the plurality of wiring layers and an edge of the base film is greater than a size of a pitch between the plurality of wiring layers. 
     
     
       18. The optical disc drive of  claim 17 , wherein the size of the margin is twice the size of the pitch. 
     
     
       19. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns are located on the reinforcing film attached to the base film. 
     
     
       20. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein each elasticity-adjusting pattern has a polygonal, oval, star or honeycomb shape. 
     
     
       21. A device comprising:
 a flexible cable comprising:
 a plurality of wiring layers disposed on a base film; 
 a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film; and 
 a reinforcing film attached to the base film at a bendable portion, 
 
 wherein the flexible cable is capable of bending throughout an entire length of the flexible cable. 
 
     
     
       22. The flexible cable of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticity-adjusting patterns gradually change in size from a middle position of the flexible cable to an outer position of the flexible cable.